Sunday, 16 March 2014

Pro Male Belly Dancer Caged For Sex Attacks On Female Students

A
professional male belly dancer and whirling dervish, who raped one
student and sexually assaulted two others, has been locked-up for
thirteen years.

Shafik
Abd El Hamed, 30, (pictured) of Warburton Street, Hackney raped the
23 year-old woman during an audition at his home after asking to see
how quickly she could undress.

The
second woman, aged 33, was subjected to a sex attack during a private
lesson and a 31 year-old was molested while the defendant helped her
prepare for a show.

Snaresbrook
Crown Court heard Abd El Hamed, who ran his own business teaching
belly dancing, claim the only sexual activity was with the second
woman and it was consensual.

The
first victim attended a belly dance audition in May 2007 and was
invited by the defendant to visit his studio a second time.

When
she arrived she found the venue was actually his home address.

He
asked her to undress, saying he needed to check how quickly she could
remove her clothes backstage, and then raped her.

The
second victim attended Abd El Hamed's address between March and July
2012 for private lessons.

It
was during these lessons she alleged she was raped and the defendant
was convicted of causing her to engage in sexual activity without
consent.

The
third victim booked a dance lesson with Abd El Hamed in October 2011
ahead of a show she was taking part in.

He
then sexually assaulted her during that lesson.

Detective
Constable Jacqueline Burns, the investigating officer from the Sexual
Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Abd El
Hamed ran a successful business and was respected in the belly
dancing community, both as a performer and teacher.

"He
used this to his advantage to rape and sexually assault three
different women.

“I
praise their courage in coming forward, it has been an incredibly
stressful and traumatic time for them, and am pleased that Abd El
Hamed has been convicted."

He
was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject
to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order with out time limit.